Minister Of Transportation Says Patimban Port Development Program Is Running Well

Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi (PHOTO VIA ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Minister of Transportation (Menhub) Budi Karya Sumadi said so far the Patimban Port development program, West Java, has been going well.

"The development progress is going well. We want the Patimban Port to give pride and provide maximum benefits for the national economy," said Budi Karya, quoted by Antara, Sunday, June 6.

During his visit to Patimban Port, Budi Karya led a meeting with a number of related parties to discuss efforts to accelerate development and optimize Patimban Port services.

The Minister of Transportation also explained the progress of the Patimban Port construction Phase 1-1 which consists of Packages 1,2,3, and 4.

Budi Karya said that package 1 has reached 99.8 percent which consists of a 420x34 meter container dock with a capacity of 250,000 TEUs, a 300x33 meter vehicle dock with a capacity of 218,000 CBU, a 60-hectare reclamation area, and a port pool area.

Then, package 2 includes work on breakwaters, seawalls, and dredging of shipping lanes, currently the progress has reached 91.4 percent.

Meanwhile, the progress of the connecting bridge which is included in Package 3 currently reaches 69.2 percent. It is targeted that the work on package 3 will be completed by the end of 2021.

"For package 4, the access road work has been completed 100 percent. However, there are still a few shortcomings on the ramp on/ramp off side to the port which will be completed soon," he said.

Meanwhile, the construction of phase 1-2 consisting of packages 5 and 6 in the form of the construction of car terminals, office buildings, container terminals, the Minister of Transportation is targeting to be completed by 2023.

He asked all parties to make maximum efforts so that ships can immediately operate at Patimban Port. Starting from sea toll ships, ASDP ships and Pelni ships, both those carrying goods and passengers.

For sea toll ships, it is planned that the destination to a number of areas such as Belawan (Medan) and Natuna Island will also stop at Patimban Port.

As for ASDP ships, the Ministry of Transportation through the Directorate General of Land Transportation will coordinate with Gaikindo and several leading car brands to seek potential vehicle deliveries.

Two ASDP vessels will serve two ASDP vessels, with a target of four trips per month for the delivery of vehicles using the Panjang, Pontianak and Makassar routes.

Meanwhile, for passenger ships, the Ministry of Transportation asked PT Pelni to open routes to and from Patimban Port, such as from Surabaya to Tanjung Priok stopping at Patimban Port for at least four ships.